Priceline Contract Rate Program

How do I participate in the Priceline Merchant Model/Contract Rate Program?

Below are very specific steps you need to follow to assure your successful enrollment in the XML Interface in between Priceline and BookingCenter.  Please note BookingCenter is available to assist, but all steps are completed initially between your property and Priceline. 

1. Submit a Support Ticket through http://support.bookingcenter.com with the description:  “(Site ID) Interested in Priceline Contract Rate Program.” All future communication between you and BookingCenter regarding this particular Contract Rate program will occur on this Support Ticket.
2. A BookingCenter representative will attach the Priceline enrollment document to the Support Ticket (called '2009 PRICELINE PROPERTY PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT_NORTH AMERICA.pdf).  Please open, print, and complete the Priceline.com 'HOTEL PROPERTY PARTICIPATION AGREEMENT.'  For your convenience it is also attached to this Knowledge Based Article.
3. Update your Support Ticket and let us know you have already faxed or emailed in the appropriate agreement.
4. Once you have done this, BookingCenter will receive initial communication from Priceline that includes your Priceline Room Descriptions.
5. At that time Booking.com will do the following:
   1. New agent codes CT1 (opaque) and TW1 (merchant) to your MyAgents under Agent Relationships.
   2. Internal notes regarding your contract settings with BookingCenter to the Support Ticket.
   3. The Priceline Room Descriptions you created will be added to the Support Ticket for you to map (match) with your BookingCenter Room Type IDs. 
   4. Further instructions of how to set up the agent in your BookingCenter management tool will be added to the Support Ticket.  

Please keep in mind that your XML interface set-up between Priceline and BookingCenter is NOT completed until you finish Part 2.  At this time you have only signed a contract with Priceline, but you have not set-up the Agent(s) in your BookingCenter software.  Until that is completed, the Priceline interface is NOT operational.  

If you are an existing Priceline extranet property, it is VERY important that you continue to manage the Priceline extranet manually until you hear that the BookingCenter interface has been completed.  At that time, all new Priceline bookings will pull the rates and availability from BookingCenter.  However, the bookings made in the extranet before the connection is completed will not download into your BookingCenter software and will continue to be handled through the extranet.

An XML interface can take two-four weeks to set-up and reach completion.  The faster you follow these steps accurately, the faster your connection will be confirmed.  

How to Interface (Connect) Priceline's Contract Rate Program and your Desktop PMS software:

If you need to reference Part 1 of this article, please go to:  https://support.bookingcenter.com/index.php?/Knowledgebase/Article/View/322

Below are the final steps to the set-up process, concentrating on setting up the agents in your BookingCenter software.  BookingCenter will be here to assist, but cannot do any of the steps on your behalf.

1.)  BookingCenter has received a list of Priceline Room Descriptions to map (match) with your existing BookingCenter Room Type IDs.  This email has already triggered the set-up of the Priceline agent(s) within your Desktop PMS software.

2.)  Please map (match) the Priceline Room Descriptions to the BookingCenter Room Type IDs on your Support Ticket at your earliest convenience.  We can do nothing until that is completed. 

3.)  Please click "Update Internet" and the TW1 and/or CT1 will download into your Agents screen.  If you don't see the agents, please update your Support Ticket and a BookingCenter representative will add them to your software.  

4.)  Set up the agents in your software:   

a.)  Within your Agents, click on the Priceline agent (TW1 or CT1) to begin allocating rooms and rates to it.

b.)  Allocate rooms, rates, and availability to the Priceline agent(s).

As agreed for this Contract Rate Program, you must negatively net load the Priceline agents inside your Agent Relationships.  

-We recommend your rack rate to be discounts 20%-30%.  This is done by entering "-20" in the Net Loading column of your Agent.  

-If you opt for a flat rate discount option (and not a percentage), you must create a new rate plan and allocate this new rate plan to the TW1 and CT1 agents.  However, Priceline does not prefer this method.  

c.)  Please do another system upload.

d.)  Update the support ticket when this step has been completed. 

5.)  Meanwhile, BookingCenter and Priceline will be working to synchronize the Priceline Room Descriptions and the BookingCenter Room Type IDs.  If there are any issues, BookingCenter will update your support ticket.  Please tend to the task at your earliest convenience as any delay will delay the overall enrollment. 

6.)  Once mapping is confirmed by Priceline and shows as a “system pass”, you should receive a confirmation email from Priceline.  We will also receive that confirmation and your support ticket will be updated and closed by BookingCenter.

Any issue you have with Priceline, please contact Priceline first.  If they direct you back to us, please comment on the initial support ticket that you opened for Priceline.  Do not open a new support ticket.  

Part 2:

• MyPMS and Management Tool Customers, please visit:  https://support.bookingcenter.com/index.php?/Knowledgebase/Article/View/599
• Desktop PMS Customers, please visit:  https://support.bookingcenter.com/index.php?/Knowledgebase/Article/View/600